It is estimated there are 590 residential high-rise buildings in London that require a ‘waking watch’.
Earlier this year, the London Assembly revealed that waking watches are costing Londoners who live in buildings identified as fire risks around £16,000 an hour.
A waking watch involves patrols of a building to raise the alarm in the event of a fire. Since the Grenfell Tower fire, waking watches are used in buildings that are at high risk, to help prevent another tragedy until dangerous cladding is removed.
Tomorrow, the Fire, Resilience, and Emergency Planning Committee will discuss the safety of residents in high-rise buildings with cladding and other fire safety defects.
Other topics up for discussion include:
- Legislation (Fire Safety Act implementation and Building Safety Bill)
- Progress on key targets in the London Safety Plan
- Equality and diversity within the London Fire Brigade
- Progress on the recommendations made with the London Fire Brigade’s Transformation Delivery Plan, Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 Report and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire & Rescue Service inspections of the London Fire Brigade
- Inspections, enforcement notices and notifications of deficiencies
The guests are:
- Dr Fiona Twycross, Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience
- Andy Roe, London Fire Commissioner
The meeting will take place on Thursday, 8 July 2021 from 10.00am.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend but numbers may be limited. The meeting can also be watched live here.
Notes to editors
1. Read the agenda papers.
2. Susan Hall AM, Chairman of the Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee, is available for interview.
3. Find out more about the London Assembly Fire, Resilience and Emergency Planning Committee.
4. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Aoife Nolan on 07849 303 897. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.